Segmented tampons



Feb. 28, 1967 s. PENKSA SEGMENTED TAMPONS Filed March 16, 1965 INVENTOR. STANLEY PENKSA i) ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,306,295 SEGMENTED TAMPONS Stanley Penksa, Worcester, N.Y. 12197 Filed Mar. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 440,196 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-485) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 359,925, filed April 15, 1964, for Segmented Tampons, nOW pending.

The invention relates to vaginal tampons wherein the tampon body is made up of a large number of relatively thin disc-like or plate-like segments of absorbent material stacked side by side in alignment, suitable means being provided to maintain the stacked segments in the shape of the tampon body.

The improvement set forth in the present application consists mainly in the substitution for the disc-shaped segments composing the tampon of multiple-pointed starshaped segments or like members. Since the circumferential edge surface of a star-shaped member exposes a substantially larger area than does a disc-shaped member to the menstrual fluid to be absorbed, such improvement results an increased rate of absorption by the tampon.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a segmented tampon composed of a relatively large number of relatively thin generally star-shaped plate-like members of absorbent material stacked side by side in alignment so that a greater area of the circumferential edges or edge surfaces of the segments is exposed to the men strual fluid for increased absorption thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cover or wrapper of. gauze, preferably cotton or the like, on the tampon, to prevent filaments or lint which may be loosened from the segments from escaping into the vaginal passage.

The above as Well as other objects will be clarified in the following description wherein reference numerals refer to like-numbered parts in the accompanying drawing. It is to be noted that the drawing is intended primarily for the purpose of illustration and it is therefore neither desired nor intended to limit the invention necesarily to any or all of the details shown or described except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the invention.

Referring briefly to the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tampon embodying features of the present invention, with parts broken away and parts omitted.

FIG. 2 is a front end view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a tampon of slightly modified construction.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a single star-shaped segment, per se.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating a modified relationship of the gauze wrapper with respect to the circumferential edges of the star-shaped segments.

FIG. 7 is another view similar to FIG. 5 except that it shows a circular or dis-shaped tampon segment similar to those disclosed in the tampon of the above-identified pending application.

FIG. 8 is a reduced side view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing the tampon contained in a standard type of discharge tube.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a tampon body which is shown in the usual substantially cylindrical form with rounded ends. The present improved tampon is made up of a plurality or multiplicity of separate, generally star-shaped relatively thin 3,306,295 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 "ice plate-like segments all having the same dimensions, of flexible absorbent material, of which cotton is an example.

These segments are shown at 11 in the drawing and, by way of example, with eight star points 12. The points ofthe star may be deeper or shallower than shown, and the number of star points is a matter of choice. The segments 11 are provided with aligned axial holes 13 through which a cord or string 14, FIGS. 1 and 2, is passed and knotted as at 15, at both ends, thus binding the segments into a tampon body. The usual withdrawal string is shown at 16 extending from the trailing end of the tampon.

The cord 14 has such a length, as shown in FIG. 1, that the knots on the ends thereof, while they constrain the segments in the compacted condition of the formed tampon, cause deformation of the segments at and near the ends 17 of the tampon, thereby rounding the ends of the tampon and imparting to them a generally conical deformation with the maximum deformation occurring at the extreme outer segments. Such deformation causes more or less spreading of the circumferential edges of the end segments from their immediate neighbors whence they expose not only the circumferential edges but also parts of the adjacent opposed surfaces of the segments, to the vaginal fluid and hence olfer increased absorbent surface for the ends of the tampon.

It is obvious that all of the segments 11 expose their circumferential edges to the fluid and hence the tampon is capable of more rapid obsorption than if a continuous flat or relatively smooth surface were exposed, as is the case in the common tampon. Further, since the circumferential length of the said edges is enlarged by the starshape of the segments, the absorption is further increased.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, the longitudinal lines 18 and 19 have been drawn to represent the aligned peaks and troughs, respectivley, of the star points 12. The tampon 10a of FIG. 3 is identical to the tampon 10 of FIG. 1, with the single exception that instead of a cord 14 binding the segments together an elastic band 20 serves that purpose, it being assumed that knots or other suitable enlargements are provided on the ends of the band. A feature of this modification showing the rubber band, which may of course be circular in cross-section as well as rectangular, is that the band permits elongation of the tampon as the segments are subject to swelling with absorbed fluid.

In the case of some materials of which the segments may be made, lint or other particles may separate from the circumferential edges of the segments. To trap such particles and keep them from passing into the vagina, a cover or wrapper 21 may be provided to enclose or surround the tampon. Such cover is preferably made of cotton gauze.

The gauze cover may be pressed or otherwise shaped to conform to the circumferential outline of the tampon so that it fits closely thereon, as shown in FIG. 5. However, it may also be fitted as shown at 21a in FIG. 6, engaging more or less the peaks alone of the points 12. Of course the points themselves may be rounded, not shown, at the peaks instead of. having sharply defined angular peaks.

FIG. 7 shows a circular segment of the kind disclosed in the above-mentioned pending application, at 22, with the gauze wrapper 21b fitting snugly on the tampon.

FIG. 8 shows a Well-known example of a discharge tube in which the tampon 10 is mounted, at 23, and is adapted to be expelled by the push rod 24.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the structures shown in the drawing such is not to be construed as a limitation upon the invention which is best defined in the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A vaginal tampon body composed of a multiplicity of relatively thin plate-like segments of absorbent material all having the same dimensions and all having the configuration of a multiple-pointed star, said segments being stacked with the star points thereof in alignment thereby providing circumferentially spaced alternating peaks and troughs throughout the length of said body, said segments having aligned axial holes therethrough, a string extending through said aligned holes and having enlargements on the ends thereof to hold the stacked segments together in compact condition, said string having a length such that said enlargements are urged inward from the ends of the body thus imparting to the segments at and near the ends of the body a generally conical deformation with the maximum deformation occurring at the extreme outermost segments whereby the ends of the body are rounded.

2. A tampon according to claim 1, having a gauze Wrapper surrounding said body.

3. A tampon according to claim 1, having a gauze wrapper surrounding said body and in engagement with the circumferential edges of said segments throughout the length of said edges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,499,414 3/1950 Rabell 128-285 2,761,449 9/1956 Bletzinger 128285 2,858,831 11/1958 Graham 128-285 3,037,506 6/1962 Penksa 128285 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

C. F. ROSENBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A VAGINAL TAMPON BODY COMPOSED OF A MULTIPLICITY OF RELATIVELY THIN PLATE-LIKE SEGMENTS OF ABSORBENT MATERIAL ALL HAVING THE SAME DIMENSIONS AND ALL HAVING THE CONFIGURATION OF A MULTIPLE-POINTED STAR, SAID SEGMENTS BEING STACKED WITH THE STAR POINTS THEREOF IN ALIGNMENT THEREBY PROVIDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED ALTERNATING PEAKS AND TROUGHS THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF SAID BODY, SAID SEGMENTS HAVING ALIGNED AXIAL HOLES THERETHROUGH, A STRING EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ALIGNED HOLES AND HAVING ENLARGEMENTS ON THE ENDS THEREOF TO HOLD THE STACKED SEGMENTS TOGETHER IN COMPACT CONDITION, SAID STRING HAVING A LENGTH SUCH THAT SAID ENLARGEMENTS ARE URGED INWARD FROM THE ENDS OF THE BODY THUS IMPARTING TO THE SEGMENTS AT AND NEAR THE ENDS OF THE BODY A GENERALLY CONICAL DEFORMATION WITH THE MAXIMUM DEFORMATION OCCURRING AT THE EXTREME OUTERMOST SEGMENTS WHEREBY THE ENDS OF THE BODY ARE ROUNDED. 